Boxing in Guimaras Island

Drawing inspiration from Manny Pacquiao, sports pundits in the province of Guimaras are mulling over plans to hold regular boxing bouts throughout the island in the hope of discovering world-class caliber boxers from among its youth. German Gacho, Guimaras Provincial Board Member and Vice Chairman for Sports Development in the province, has come up with a suggestion to revive boxing competitions in its five municipalities which were last seen by Guimarasnons during the 80s. Unfortunately, the boxing bouts which now and then, pitted local talents against amateur fighters from neighboring provinces in Western Visayas, died out owing to insufficient funding from the government. However, Gacho made it clear that the plan is still on the drawing table and that initial negotiations between the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) and the provincial government of Guimaras have yet to take off from the ground and eventually ensure its success. Gacho sounded optimistic that boxing’s comeback in Guimaras Island will be a welcomed respite for aficionados weary of life’s daily grind and ostensibly, as in the other regions, Guimaras yearns to produce the country’s next boxing superstar. Gacho promised to take up the matter with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as soon as possible and then make a presentation before incumbent Governor Felipe Hilan Nava. (PNA)